Moscow:In a sharp escalation of tensions, U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of two nuclear submarines to “appropriate regions” near Russia. The move came in response to what he called “highly provocative” and “inflammatory” statements from former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
The public spat between the two leaders, which has been playing out on social media platforms, reached a new level of brinkmanship when Medvedev, who is now the Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council, made an allusion to Russia’s Cold War-era nuclear “Dead Hand” system. The “Dead Hand” (also known as Perimeter) is an automated or semi-automated nuclear weapons control system designed to launch a retaliatory nuclear strike even if Russia’s leadership has been incapacitated.
Trump, in a post on his Truth Social platform, stated, “Based on the highly provocative statements of the Former President of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev… I have ordered two Nuclear Submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions, just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that.” He added, “Words are very important, and can often lead to unintended consequences, I hope this will not be one of those instances.”
The exchange of insults began after Trump made remarks about the “dead economies” of Russia and India and attacked Medvedev directly. Medvedev’s response, which referenced the “Dead Hand” system, was perceived as a direct threat.
Trump did not specify whether the submarines were nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed, nor did he reveal their exact location, as is standard U.S. military protocol. The deployment marks a rare public display of nuclear saber-rattling between the two nuclear superpowers. The incident has raised concerns among international observers about the potential for miscalculation and unintended conflict.
